Birthday Present - Lake Como Trip

After dinner party on 9/26, everyone coincidentally took a trip: Antonia & Toby returned to SF, Trevor & Beth flew to Bulgaria, while Doug, Jen, Syd, & I went to Lake Como to have a drink with Georgie (Clooney) for my birthday weekend! :p Then Doug and Jen continued on their romantic Italian trip to Venice and Cinque Terre.

Guess where we stayed in Lake Como? The view was out of this world!














Ha, now we can say we have stayed in the REAL Bellagio (not the one in Las Vegas). Back in early September when we decided to come, I was looking forward to swim in the lake. However, it was no way I'd jump into the freezing lake when we arrived. :( Man, this year in Italy is just not my swimming year... I only swam twice: in Spotorno (Liguria coast) and in Cinque Terre.

Lake Como was beautiful and peaceful. We took ferries traveling from one town to another in leisure. All of us agreed that Varenna is the prettiest town due to its unique walkway along the water and colorful buildings. Oh, and we also found a geocache (www.geocaching.com) there!

The best birthday gift for me this year was relaxing and having fresh and yummy lake fishes for dinner!

Photo on Left: Group Picture at the Northern End of Bellagio

Photo on Right: Fanny Bridge














So what did I do on my birthday? Well, I didn't want to become a human popsicle in the water and my companions are hikers... so I was 'forced' to hike to a church way way way up on a mountain to celebrate my turning of 25. :p (Yes, that IS the church we were going for!)

See how happy Syd was showing me the way to the church.














After about 1 hour of zig-zag hiking straight up, we finally reached the church. I was the last one getting there, of course (hey, Doug and Jen are Ironpeople while Syd hikes for a living). I still couldn't believe I hiked (instead of swimming or karaoking or dancing or drinking... well, I drank some but that's another story) on my birthday!


Photo on Left: Look at the View Behind Us atop of the Mountain: See that Castle?

Photo on Right: A Bigger Photo of the Castle

Ciao, Amici di San Francisco!

September was the month for San Franciscans to visit Torino... well, at least 4 of them were here! :) Our friends took their time showing up (of course)... first Antonia and Toby on 9/19, then Doug flew in from Spain a day later, and finally Jen came on 9/25!

First things first, let's drink in our favorite wine bar! (For those of you with an excellent memory, I fell in love with a white... wine here, Moscato di Asti). But besides drinking, this family-run place also prepares delicious local dishes such as Acciughe in Verde (Anchovies in Green Sauce), various local cheeses/ salami, etc.

While we were waiting for Jen to join us, we visited famous sites in Torino: La Mole (Symbol of Torino - Cinema Museum), Superga, Egyptian Museum (way too cool), hiked to a ruined abbey in freezing cold (I was smart soaking in bathtub at home), Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), Venaria Reale, tons of awesome Italian dishes, chocolates (with ChocoPass), and gelatos. Toby even had 2 gelatos in a day!

But the best of all in my opinion is the drive to Langhe's wine region. All 8 of us in 2 cars searching for the great wine. We stopped at Bra (a small town where slow food got started) for a bellissimo lunch (tasty local raw sausages but I loved my goose with white beans more). Then we followed the directions from the wonderful wine bar owner and found THE wine producer: Beni di Batasiolo in la Morra. We didn't make an appointment beforehand so Syd just rang the bell. The gatekeeper asked quite a few questions but it turned out that Syd only needed to say the magical 2 words: Siamo Americani (We're Americans). Voila, the gate opened! :)

Photo on Right: Happy happy Lily!

Photo Below: Happy Antonia with all her wine glasses!














Photo on Left: Happy customers with the knowledgeable and friendly wine educator. We purchased total 3 cases (6 bottles/ case) of different wines.

Photo on Right: Happy ladies!















And of course the birthday party... we had 3 birthday people (1 Virgo and 2 sexy Libras) in the house: Toby, Doug, and me! Syd and I invited all of our friends in Torino to join us for a relaxing and entertaining night. Singing happy birthday in 3 different languages (Italian, English, and Mandarin) was a blast but I think Filippo had the most fun playing with Jen's new digital camera. It takes pictures when the target person smiles! Wow! Afterwards, we all went back to our apartment nearby to watch Doug and Jen's Ironman video and continue chatting. What a great night! Thanks, everyone! :)

Photo on Left: Toby, Antonia, Syd, Filippo, Roberta, Trevor, Beth, Jen, Doug, Lily, Giorgia, and Simone.

Photo on Right: Birthday people - Doug, Lily, and Toby. We all turned 25 this year! :p *Grazie per i fiori, Giorgia e Simone! Grazie per la carta, Beth!*

French Castles

Another trip to France! This time is for Marilyn and Bryan's wedding. Marilyn and I have known each other since elementary school in Taiwan. Coincidentally, our families moved to US within a period of 6 months in 1986: mine to Colorado and then later to California and Marilyn's to Missouri. Marilyn was always the class president/ valedictorian (班 長/模範生) so it wasn't a surprise that she became a heart surgeon. We have lost touch with all of our friends from elementary school so it was special for me to make it to her wedding... all the way in France. Well, it is perfect timing as Syd and I are living in Italy this year.

But, before we greet the beautiful bride and her groom, we visited Angers first. We didn't realize at the time but this trip turned out to be an orientation of French castles. Chateau d'Angers is a neolithic royal fortress built with black and white rocks dating back to 14th century. It is constructed on a rocky promontory overlooking the river Maine for military defense yet it has a beautiful garden (must be planted recently for tourists). The most fascinating display of the castle was the Apocalypse tapestry (completed in 1382). It depicted rich details of the last book of the bible and it is the oldest surviving hanging of the size: 100m long x 4.5m high, with 70 scenes.














Yeahhhhh, our next stop was to Marilyn and Bryan's wedding castle (Chateau de Challain) in Challain la Potherie. The neogothic castle was a private residence of a count and countess who hired a very famous architect (known for the Louvre extension) from Paris, Louis Visconti. It is currently a B&B and hosts wedding receptions (http://www.chateauchallain.com/).

The chateau was breath-taking! The outdoor surrounding consisted of gardens and a lake while the interior was decorated with antique furniture and marble tiles/ stairway/ sculptures. However, the wedding reception was even more amazing! We joined Marilyn, Bryan, their family and friends for rehearsal and wedding dinners. The chef who prepared both dinners was exceptional! I had the best French cuisine in my life: scallops, lobster, steak with foie gras, and duck. Every dish was extremely delicious that it was emptied in minutes. All the guests were so thrilled by the chef's cooking that Bryan (he's a consultant) is now working on getting the chef and his family to America. The chef has sold his restaurant and wants to move to either America or Australia. I hope Bryan can work out the details so Syd and I can fly to Florida to enjoy the amazing cuisine again.

I've never attended a small and personal wedding reception before. This reception (~ 30 guests) felt intimate because everyone chat with one another. Marilyn and Bryan really get to spend time with their guests... very different when Syd and I had 160 guests! More importantly, the bride and the groom get to eat... very different when I only had 2 bowls of soup for the entire night while Syd missed his wedding cake! :(


This was the first time I met Bryan but immediately I knew why he is perfect for my dear friend: his sense of humor and fun attitude towards life. Marilyn has been 'perfect' throughout her life but it also has occupied a lot of her time instead of having fun. Now Bryan can make her laugh and show her to slow down and 'smell the roses'. I'm very happy for you guys. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan and Marilyn King!


Chenonceau Chateau, our 3rd castle in France, is near Tours. Syd's college friend, Sera, had recommended this castle to us when we visited her in Bordeaux. This unique castle was built on top of a river in the 16th century. King Henri II gave it to his mistress, Diane De Poitiers (a duchess), as a gift. The duchess managed the castle like a business: drawing up a list of the premises/ properties and rent them out to make profits. She was also a great designer since she laid out the gardens of the castle that were among the most modern and spectacular of the time. However, after the King died, Queen Catherine De Medici requested the duchess to return Chenonceau and then lived there herself.


The most unique room in the castle to me is the Gallery which is the hallways on top of the arch. It was first used as a ballroom, then during WWI, it turned into a hospital with different services (huge kitchens were located downstairs). Furthermore, during WWII, many people went through the southern door of the Gallery to the FREE ZONE for freedom while the castle's entrance was in the occupied zone.
















The last castle on our trip was Chateau des Baux, a ruined castle in Les Baux, near Avignon (South France). Les Baux is a small village (pop. 422) yet picturesque since it is set atop of a rocky outcrop. My college friend, Dawn, thinks this is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We also stayed at a B&B recommended by her which was crafted out of the rocks. Very cool! :)














So overall, we had wonderful experiences to France. My only complaint is the cold weather on this trip because 1) we didn't prepare for it (only had T-shirts, shorts, and a light jacket) and 2) I couldn't take pretty photos with lavender and sunflowers since they were already withered. :( But we had great French food! I was so excited and pleased to found Ratatouille inside a crepe! Double bonus for me! Here is a proof of how happy Syd was with a plate full of cheese. :p

Grazie Mille, la Famiglia di Tempia-Bonda!

Last Sunday Filippo and Alberto invited us to their 'hometown' for BBQ. The town's name, 'Bonda', is a part of their family name. The family crest is also painted on the external wall of their home. The town is cute and unique like no other in Italy because it is decorated with many different forms of art (sculpture with metal/ stone/ ceramic materials, painting, etc.). I agree with Filippo that many Americans would be interested to stay in Bonda (ex. B&B) for some R&R, hiking, art, and local cuisine. However, one must have a car to get through the narrow roads from the closest train station to the town. On the other hand, I'm not sure if Bonda would be the same lovely town after visiting of too many tourists. Having the right balance is always difficult.

Photo on Left: Filippo shows us his 'hometown' on map. He's the one who brought all of us (including our friends and family) to Torino. The city should give him an award for 'Best Promotion of Torino to Smart and Sexy Foreigners'. :p

Photo on Right: Group picture in the main piazza - Filippo, Trevor, Beth, 'naked body art', Alberto, Lily, Syd, and Simone.














Mmmmm, the Tempia-Bonda brothers both have the hots for American cities.

Photo on Left: Filippo and Alberto's wonderful parents. They are so generous and friendly preparing all the food and making us feel like at home.

Photo on Right: The Greatest BBQ Grill! No American BBQ can beat it!























We started off with cheese, bread, and fried zucchini flowers with apertivo wine. Then grilled skewers (see photo above), pork chops, and sausages were served with house-made red wine. Those yummy yummy home-made chocolate cake with fresh cream then appeared on our plates. Of course, to properly wrap up Italian cuisine, one must have digestivo drinks. Filippo's dad makes his own wine and alcohol... Trevor asked him for the recipe and the most important element is that the alcohol must be 90% proof! One can imagine how full and sleepy we were after such a delicious feast.

Photo on Left: Our lunch table on a scenic balcony on top of a hill. It's also under beautiful grapevines.

Photo on Right: See so many grapes on top of Syd's head! These grapes turn into wine later in the year in Filippo's dad's hands.
























Photo on Left: Socializing during apertivo time! See the balcony behind Alberto and Syd? That's where we had lunch.

Photo on Right: Group Photo - Simone, Filippo, Alberto, Simone's mom, Filippo & Alberto's parents, Trevor, Beth, and Syd.














Filippo's dad kept calling on me during lunch because I was so quiet. Well, I was busy eating! Man, I gotta get my share before it was grabbed by all these boys! :p Oh yes, the lunch was truly international since we communicated in Italian, English, and Mandarin (Simone and me). I enjoyed and actually understood the 15-minute conversation of solo-Italiano! It must have been the wine.

Bon Soir, Paris!

Yes, food... what should we eat in Paris? This may surprise you guys but it makes perfect sense for Syd and I (bay area residents who are spoiled with various Asian cuisine) to go to Chinatown for the BEST Vietnamese Pho and fried egg rolls. Yes, yes, certainly we had to have our favorite French food as well, so the French bakery a block away served our breakfast every morning. Anyways, I confess that the next day before we took the train back to Torino, we couldn't help it but eat at a Chinese fast-food restaurant. It really wasn't our fault as it was located 2 stores from the hotel which we had to pass by every time to take the metro. Although the Chinese food was tasty, it wasn't cheap as each dish was priced by weight. Oh, well, at least we had spicy shrimps and curry chicken with fried rice.



Ok, that's enough about food in Paris, sooooooo what should we see in Paris? I think that's a rather stupid question to ask. So I'll just post a few photos instead.

Bonjour, Toulouse!

How can it be? Toulouse is competing with Bordeaux to be selected as 'the city of culture' in 2013? I wasn't impressed by Toulouse since it was dirtier than Bordeaux: more trash and doggie poop on the streets. The most interesting element of the city was transportation convenience: plenty of bikes for residents and tourists at all major sites with the purchase of a city card. For me, Bordeaux not only has the history and architecture, its local government also has been doing a good job by keeping it clean and installing new trams, shops, and restaurants. Of course, the city government of Bordeaux is most likely richer (ex. wine) than Toulouse.

Woh, where did that tank come from? As a matter of fact, we saw quite a few military soldiers carrying semi-auto machine guns patrolling in train stations and major touristy sites in France. But a tank on a street was just too bizarre... later on the tank turned out to be on the way to the city plaza for a movie set.














We had good food in Toulouse. Syd finally got his crepe (with mushroom and cheese) while I had my long-awaited salad. We have been eating great French cuisine with Sera which consisted lots of meat, therefore a light dinner was most welcomed. My perfect salad had all my favorites: green pepper, onion, avocado (Syd hates them), and... are you ready for this... mustard sauce! How can I not love France?!

Merci Beaucoup, Sera!

We came back from our first 'Out of Italy' experience last week - we went to 3 cities in France: Bordeaux for friendship, wine, and food; Toulouse for exploration and food; and Paris for sightseeing and of course, food!

Sera was waiting for us at Bordeaux's train station. Bordeaux has been 'cleaned up' from the smoke of export ships (mostly British). The city still has some blackened buildings so we could see the BIG contrast before and after. The clean and antique look of the architecture is... modern yet historical at the same time. An unique style all by itself. You just have to see it yourself. :) Sera satisfied our hunger for French cuisine by taking us to yummy yum yum fresh oysters and excellent local wine (Chateau Greysac 1999). For main course, I ordered the special thinking it was veal with foie gras sauce. The meat was delicious yet with an interesting texture... Syd tasted it and said it should be liver. No problem, I like liver. But after Sera checked a dictionary when we returned to her apartment for the night, we found out what I have actually eaten was kidney!

I didn't realize that I missed mustard so much until I tasted it with roasted beef open-face sandwich the next day. I immediately decided that I must buy mustard and pickles in France. After lunch, we strolled along the river and found THE playground. Wow, so many people of all ages were there running, splashing, and playing with water. We even saw a naked girl rolling on the ground (calm down, guys, she's only 3 or 4 years old). It was hilarious. Of course, we are big kids so we join the fun as well.























We simply cannot miss wine-tasting in one of the best vineyards in the world! Sera booked an appointment at one of the most prestigious wine producer in Bordeaux - Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. The tour lasted 1.5 hours with detailed chateau history, walk-tour of the cellars, wine-making process, and my favorite, wine-tasting. I haven't tasted such wonderful young wine (bottled the same week) before, the flavor was so smooth and complex already. Each bottle needs to be in the cellar for at least 2 years before it appears in the market. It isn't cheap either - current cost is 300+ euros per bottle. Yes, it is the most expensive wine Syd and I have ever tasted.